Thorns and Thistles This segment follows-up this month's devotional by probing a bit deeper regarding the goals and desires we have for this life, as well as their relationship to our 'contentment.' We look for what's driving our major objectives (i.e., man-centered or God-centered). We also consider our daily need for courage and intimacy with the Lord to stay focused on the fact that God is sovereign, He's growing us for His purposes, and He will use it all for our good and His glory if we're obedient in the process. The Application Worksheet is extremely helpful in making the point that our troubles and goals can often be fleeting, though they seem all consuming at the moment, especially when we take our eyes off Jesus and His truth.